HPU has been informed by the City and County of Honolulu that
higher national threat levels will affect security procedures
at University events held in public venues such as the Blaisdell
Center and the Waikiki Shell. Some of the security upgrades
may affect students, especially graduates and their friends
and families attending graduation, according to Barbara Benson,
director of Special Programs at HPU.

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The most important things students need to remember for May
graduation, Benson said, are proper identification and small
purses or bags, or, better yet, no bags.

According to the City and County directive, “All purses, packages,
boxes, backpacks, diaper bags, or other containers, larger than
eight inches by four inches by two inches will only be admitted
if the individual carrying it will open it for inspection.”

Providing a little more detail, John Fuhrmann. events and services
manager for the Shell, said: “Small clutch purses and other
small private items such as fanny packs, small knapsacks, and
diaper bags (with accompanying baby) may be exempted.”

The suggestion to leave bags at home actually came from a memo
Fuhrmann sent the university.

“Patrons attending public events at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center
and the Waikiki Shell are asked to refrain from bringing backpacks,
brief cases, hand bags or other personal carrying containers
larger than clutch purses or fanny packs to events at either
location.

“All backpacks, brief cases, large handbags, diaper bags, tote
bags, coolers or carrying containers will be subject to search
as a condition of entry. Individuals without large hand-carried
items will not be required to undergo entry inspection and may
use separate designated speed lines for entry.”

Fhurmann added that at Waikiki Shell events, coolers larger
than 18 inches in length are not permitted, and only backrests
are allowed for the lawn seating area. He added that a higher
alert status might also mean mean that students would not be
admitted without proper ID.

As at all events, any individual possessing any contraband
or illegal items, or unlicensed weapons, on their persons or
in packages, will be detained for action by on duty police officers,
Fuhrmann added.